OUR MISSION

The mission of Salina Art Center is to create exchanges among art, artists, and audiences that reveal life.

ATTIRE

Guests are encouraged to embrace “Garden Party” attire—think Regency-inspired dresses, gloves, whimsy, elegance, and a touch of theatrical flair.

HOTEL ROOM

If you would like to book a room at the hotel that night, reservations can be made with our unique link here.

Or use our block code: 1SAC

Please reserve your room by January 3.

PARKING

Guests can park in Hilton Garden Inn’s Parking Lot

DONATIONS

This Gala is a fundraiser for the Salina Art Center. All proceeds from the Gala are restricted to support programs and operations of the Salina Art Center, which includes the Galleries, Cinema, and Warehouse Education Studio. The Salina Art Center is a 501(c)3 organization and donations may be tax-deductible.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photos will be available on social media after the Gala.

FASHION SHOW

15 artists will send unconventional fashion down the runway, and one will walk away with a $1,000 prize. You choose the winner with your donations. Link to vote for your favorite designer will go live on January 10. Share with your friends & vote for your favorite!

WHEN

Saturday, January 31
Cocktails and music at 7pm.
Fashion show at 8.
Afterparty to follow.

WHERE

Hilton Garden Inn
3320 S 9th St
Salina, KS

Ana Garcia

Ana Garcia is a boundary-breaking Kansas based designer located in Salina, KS. Her work fuses ancestral Mexican and indigenous Purépecha artistry with sculptural, modern silhouettes. Her design language is rooted in heritage—embroidery inspired by traditional textiles, vibrant palettes and silhouettes shaped by Indigenous craftsmanship—but reimagined through a sharply contemporary lens.

Trained in Denver’s design scene and refined at Kansas State University, Ana’s work is defined by precision tailoring, thoughtful storytelling, and an unapologetic celebration of identity. Each garment she creates is a reclamation, a declaration, and a work of wearable art. 

Throughout her ongoing journey fighting ovarian cancer, Ana has continued to design, drawing strength from her cultural lineage and channeling it into her craft. For her, fashion is not only art—it is healing, empowerment, and a way to preserve and showcase the stories woven into her identity.

Catrina At The Tea Party

“My design is a vision of Catrina stepping into a blooming Mexican garden, dressed for a tea party that celebrates life, ancestry, and feminine power. Inspired by Mexican marigolds, monarchs, lace, and traditional embroidery, this look blends my cultural roots with couture fantasy.”

Materials: Unbleached Muslin, avocado's (used for dying fabrics pink), Cotton, Ribbon, boning, braided horsehair, and resin flowers

Beki Nyland

Beki Nyland is a hairstylist, salon owner, and multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges beauty, culture, and storytelling. Her career spans national hairstyling competitions, film and editorial projects, runway shows, and collaborations with artists and organizations across the country. She is based in Wichita, Kansas, where she continues to expand her practice through both community work and experimental projects that merge traditional hairstyling with contemporary art.

“For the piece A Woman in Bloom, I will be constructing a sculptural dress that serves as both a garment and an art object. The embellishments adorning the dress will be created using braiding hair, a material deeply connected to cultural tradition, identity, and craft.”

Materials: Synthetic braiding hair (various colors and textures), Textile base materials for dress construction, Adhesives, sewing supplies, and structural supports

Cathy Hayes

“Flour” Girl

Rooted in the grace of Regency-era dress, the “Flour” Girl reimagines the empire silhouette through a lens of renewal and care. A soft, floor-length skirt cascades from beneath a low square neckline, its gentle pleats echoing the elegance of another time. Puffed sleeves frame the bodice, lending a quiet romanticism to the form.

The skirt is crafted from discarded brown paper flour bags, thoughtfully repurposed from Seraphim Bakery and Prairieland Market. Beneath the outer layer, a second pleated skirt of paper reaches the floor, adding depth, movement and history. The bodice, made from unbleached muslin, offers a natural contrast- humble and honest- while maintaining the refined Regency shape.

From hem to neckline, the dress blooms with hand-formed brown paper flowers. Large blossoms unfurl across the skirt and train, while delicate, smaller blooms scatter softly over the bodice, creating a visual journey from earth to air. The piece stands as a quiet celebration of transformation - where the ordinary becomes ornamental, and what was once used finds new life in beauty.

With heartfelt thanks to Seraphim Bakery and Prairieland Market for the flour bags that began this journey. This piece came to life with the generous support and creative guidance of Jenn Morris and the Salina Theatre costume shop. Endless thanks to Amy Kessinger, Courtney Kessinger and Annie Hayes for the many joyful hours spent crafting the paper flowers that now bloom across the dress. And last, but never least, thank you to Kirsty Hartley for modeling this unconventional creation with such charm and grace.

Cathy Hayes is a creative artist who brings curiosity, color, and heart into everything she makes. After 25 years teaching both general and special education in Salina Public Schools, she continues to share her joy for learning and expression through art. Her work reflects a love for community, connection, and seeing beauty in everyday moments.

Materials: Thread, Elmers glue, hot glue, 10 big flour/produce bags from Prairieland Market, muslin, and linen

Chadwick Armstrong

Behold an entrance most sovereign in spirit and splendor. Draped in regality and purpose, this queenly vision draws inspiration from trellised secret rose gardens. Where climbing blooms entwine with ironwork and whispers of intrigue. These are rich taffeta fabrics, rose details, and wig made entirely out of paper. One can only surmise… power like a rose, is most intoxicating when it dares to climb.

Chadwick Armstrong is a Costume Society of America member and Kansas State Alumni. Some credits include: Semi Finalist of Lifetime's Season 13 Project Runway, Disney's Lion King National tour, Disney's Beauty and the Beast National tour, Sister Act National tour, Dirty Dancing National tour, Celtic Woman World tour, P!NK World tour and Vegas Legends Show.

Chadwick designs costumes for surrounding high schools and professionally credited musicals for Roxy s Downtown. He is overjoyed to return for the Salina Art Center fashion gala!

Materials: Organza, Taffeta, 3-D florals, Fabric/Boned Trellis, Paper, Craft Foam

Jennifer stofer

Jenny has lived in Kansas for a year, and has lived in Iowa, Minnesota, and Vermont before that. She repairs and alters clothes and makes quilts. She works as an instructional assistant and sponsors an art club. She loves spending time both downtown and way out of town on a hike.

“This piece is not directly related to Monet’s gardens. Its silhouette will be an airy white gown like in Monet's Madame Monet and Her Son. The translucent parasol and puffy engine-steam bust reference Monet's La Gare Saint-Lazare series. The appliqué train on the skirt references Kandinsky's Murnau View with Railway and Castle.”

Dress: cotton lawn fabric, white and black; black dye or stain (need to test dyes/stains to see which sets the best and looks the most like soot)

Chemise: cotton muslin

Parasol panels: translucent gauze fabric

Parasol frame: wire or parts from upcycled old tripods or music stands

Jerzee Mullins, Leilen Castellanos, and Margy Hogarty 

As Jane Austen once wrote, “Indulge your imagination in every possible flight.” The empire-style gown itself was designed by Jerzee and Leilen with research and knowledge of the Regency era, using dark colors and satin which would have been popular and acceptable for ladies. To add a bit of literature to the gown, Jerzee and Leilen used text from historical romances to create paper roses and fastened them onto the layers of the dress. Leilen handmade Margy’s jewelry using chain mail attaching a beautiful amethyst bead. To tie everything together, Lady Margaret hair is styled in a signature Regency style paired with a peacock feather, another nod to Jane Austen. 

Local booksellers Jerzee Mullins, Leilen Castellanos, and Margy Hogarty share a love of romance, literature, and extravagant fashion. This dress is designed by Jerzee and Leilen pulling elements from the era and garden of Jane Austen. Margy will be their model as she commands every room she walks into with class and warmth. 

Materials: satin, organza, thread, embroidered bead silver leaf trim, amethyst beads, assorted sterling silver jump rings, Lobster claw bracelet clasp, sterling silver chain, Mod Podge, Books, Hot Glue, Clear Umbrella, Letters from “Pride and Prejudice” book 

Kirsten Speilman

The Moment of Bloom captures the instant where stillness gives way to transformation - the delicate threshold between bud and blossom.

This design translates that quiet explosion of life into movement and form. The silhouette begins with structured folds at the core, representing containment and potential, before opening outward into fluid, petal-like layers that showcase themselves with every step.

Kirsten Speilman is from Salina, Kansas, a photographer, hair stylist, and emerging fine artist whose work captures the raw beauty found within authenticity. What began as a childhood love for drawing and painting has evolved into a creative journey that merges visual storytelling, texture, and emotion.

As both a creator and a visionary, she brings a bold yet grounded energy to everything she touches. Her design for the In Bloom fashion showcase, is a reflection of rebirth and individuality - a celebration of what it means to come alive, even through contrast.

Whether behind the camera, in the salon, or at the sketchbook, her mission remains the same: to help others see themselves as art in their truest form.

Materials: Iridescent fabric, Small Crafting Wire, Sewing thread, Rhinestones, Mesh Fabric, Floral greenery

Lacie Austin

Lacie Austin is a textile artist and woodblock printmaker utilizing discarded remains. Raised on a farm in southeast Kansas, her childhood taught her how to find value in the discarded. As a co-founder and gallery manager of Switchgrass Art Co-op in Lucas, KS, she actively advocates for and showcases the work of fellow artists every day. Lacie's creations frequently delve into themes of joy and creativity, mirroring her fervor for repurposing discarded materials into vibrant and memorable pieces. Her detailed artwork highlights her commitment to intricate and painstaking craftsmanship. Lacie encourages viewers to recognize the beauty of sustainability and the imaginative potential of their discards. 

Materials: Paper Flowers, Dried Moss, Petticoat, Long sleeved secondhand garment, Secondhand hat

Malissa Long

Malissa Long is an artist and fashion designer who grew up near Beaumont, Texas. Her early passion for fashion, inspired by her mother and grandmother, led her to major in Fashion Merchandising with an elective in pattern making at Sam Houston University.

She began her professional journey in fashion in 2003, and her work includes designing new classics in boutique, cocktail, and evening wear for her brand MLW/Malissa Long Wear. She has also worked as a sewn product developer, creating safety gear for military, consumer goods, and the aerospace industry.

Her designs often incorporate fiber art and unconventional materials, using items like ties, bottle caps, and recycled aluminum cans. She is a founding member of the Austin Fiber Artists.

Malissa Long moved to the Wichita, Kansas, area around July 2015. She is dedicated to the local arts community, serving as the executive director of the Mulvane Community Foundation and is involved in founding a statewide advocacy nonprofit, the Kansas Arts Network. She has also been the President of The Arts Council and chair of the Fiber Arts Center of the Wichita Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers Guild. She served as the Textiles area lead for MakeICT. In 2021, she explored Plein Air Sewing after an artist-in-residence position at Botanica in Wichita.

Materials: Clear plastic spoons, dessert plates, and other items made of clear hard plastic, Shopping bag tabs, Bluetooth controled battery power lights

Marcela N McNett

“Migis Garden is a vision of futuristic beings thriving within the remnants of a once-flourishing natural world — a poetic balance between technology and nature’s resilience. The design explores how life adapts, transforms, and continues to bloom even amid change.

Soft, organic fabrics intertwine with structured metallic accents, representing the harmony between what was grown and what was created. Flowing silhouettes evoke vines and petals reclaiming space, while futuristic textures mirror light, strength, and survival.

At its heart, Migis Garden is a tribute to growth, renewal, and love that endures through transformation — dedicated to my daughter MiAngele (Migi), whose spirit inspires beauty in both the natural and the new worlds.”

Jackie Hogan and Molly Lubbers

Jackie Hogan and Molly Lubbers are a mother daughter duo that share an unbreakable bond built on mutual admiration and creativity with a love for fashion and design.

Jackie was born and raised in Clifton, Kansas. She later moved to Salina to attend Brown Mackie College, where she majored in Fashion Merchandising. Jackie currently works at Coronado Elementary School, a role she truly enjoys. In her free time, she enjoys baking, crafting, and spending quality time with her six grandchildren.

Molly is a Salina native who grew up taking summer classes at the Art Center, where she developed an early appreciation for creativity. She is the mother of two daughters, Braisley, six, and Charlotte, six months. For the past 13 years, Molly has owned and operated an in-home daycare. In her free time she enjoys house projects and spending time with her girls.

Their dress was crafted from a vintage chenille bedspread. The textured fabric serves as a canvas for delicately hand-painted butterflies, adding movement, color, and a sense of whimsy throughout the design. Completing the look is a custom butterfly headpiece and matching gloves. 

Sally Brandon

Elegance and drama are hallmarks of her brand as a designer of timeless, handwoven clothing for women of distinction and the "Monet" inspiration for tonight's event is what influenced Sally Brandon to participate in the Gala this year.  SallyB is a self-taught weaver with more than 35 years of experience and, more recently, a two-season designer at Kansas City Fashion Week. Over the past two years, her work has been recognized with awards at Columbia, Missouri’s Art in the Park and Fall Into Art; Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Prairie Arts Festival; and Omaha, Nebraska’s Rockbrook Village Art Fair.

Her clothing is inspired by the earliest loom-shaped garments. She is drawn to the challenge of referencing historical fashion eras while working within the discipline of loom-shaped fabric, woven to size to reduce waste. Handwoven selvedges are intentionally used as seam treatments, adding both durability and a refined finish to her slow-fashion designs.

Over the years, she has also developed a distinctive method of dyeing warp that gives the finished fabric an impressionistic, painterly quality. For her "Coronation" piece, she has chosen Claude Monet’s A Spot on the Banks of the Seine as inspiration for a warp-painted inset in the cape.  Focusing on that and the coronation of Napoleon's Josephine, she has woven the fabric of the cape to reflect the elegance of Josephine’s coronation. Creating a dress was more of a challenge as she normally creates jackets and jewelry.  Both garments are woven from mill-end cotton and rayon. The gown’s cap sleeves and the necklace are nuno-felted silk and alpaca as is the neckpiece.  

Regency elegance, and Impressionist fantasy come together through traditional techniques and thoughtfully chosen luxury materials.

Secily Cruse

Born and raised under the wide Kansas skies, Secily Cruse has always seen the world as her canvas. Today, she translates that vision into art as a professional dreamer and multidisciplinary creator. After earning her BFA in Graphic Design from Fort Hays State University, Secily took her work nationwide, exhibiting in states like Missouri, California, and Texas. When she isn’t at her desk, she’s likely bringing characters to life through intricate costume design or exploring the vibrant atmosphere of a local Renaissance fair.

Here is the runway description,

The design, Painting Alice, is a visual retelling of Alice's surreal journey through Wonderland.

The centerpiece is the white rose skirt, paired with cascading red sleeves to capture a moment from the Queen's garden. It evokes the image of Alice and the card soldiers desperately painting the roses, with "paint" still seemingly dripping down the fabric.

The top pays tribute to the Walrus and Curious Oysters, with its shell-shaped corset and pearl detailing.

To finish the look, the butterfly headband represents the Caterpillar’s metamorphosis, a symbol of the self-discovery Alice undergoes on her journey.

Every detail works together to capture a dream where nothing is quite as it seems. From the depths of the sea, the garden's edge, to the open sky, this piece is my tribute to the magic of losing and eventually finding oneself in Wonderland.

Seferino Ramirez Jr

For this design, I wanted to take the theme garden party and add a little twist to it. The dark blue color scheme of the gown is because the garden party that we’re attending is hosted by Tim Burton and/or Guillermo del Toro. Inspired by their dark fantasy worlds the design came to life! The corset top is made out of a cotton with a flower design, stoned entirely by hand with aurora borealis glass crystals size ss 20. The huge bow and train in the back is made by the same fabric also stoned with SS 20 crystals. The beautiful bridal satin skirt is a full circle skirt and leaving it without stones was intentional because it is now a perfect contrast to the lustrous top and bow.

Materials: Satin with an Organza Overlay, Glass rhinestones, Boning, Hoop skirt, Tulle, Matching thread, Grommets, Ribbon, Floral Lace